BYU NewsNet - New study abroad website

First there was ratemyprofessors.com. Then there was ratemyteachers.com. Now there's rateyourstudyabroad.com, a new Web site launched by John Henry and Henry van Wagenberg, co-founders, where high school and college students can rate and research study abroad programs.

Currently, BYU study abroad programs aren't listed on the site, but anyone can add a BYU study abroad program by clicking the link, "Add a Program."

Students then sign-in to the web page to briefly list location details, program details and provide positive or negative feedback about their study abroad experience.

When students add a BYU program to the site and give feedback about the program, BYU students and students around the world get an idea of the experience.

The information on the Internet about study abroad programs is generally the site's own promotional material. Other online information tends to lack a source for objective feedback, van Wagenberg said.

This program is especially useful for people who want to get an idea of study abroad programs, he said. It's also useful for students who may not know anyone who's done the program before and want to get a frame of reference, he said.

There are many study abroad programs and the Institute of International Education [IIE] reported more than 7,000 programs this year, van Wagenberg said.

"I think study abroad programs will continue to grow, even with the economic crisis, because people still need to continue to grow," he said.

Study abroad programs continue to increase in popularity. Programs have grown about 10 percent every year in the last 10 years, and in the last 12, it's doubled, he said.

"I believe students are looking for more international experiences," van Wagenberg said. "The world is getting smaller and flatter, as Thomas Friedman would say."

He said study abroad is a part of education.

"If you're going to work for a business it will affect the rest of the world potentially," he said. "Having exposure to the world is beneficial in whatever you do."

He studied in China and Germany. He said the program in Germany wasn't that good and was cancelled two years later.

Study abroad programs need some accountability, van Wagenberg said.

"It [the Web site] could help increase popularity by bringing more accountability and increase the quality of study abroad programs because people would learn which ones are good," he said.

"I hope BYU programs get on there soon," van Wagenberg said.

Kimber Harding, a senior, from Detroit, majoring in exercise science said she would use the information as a resource but wouldn't base her decision off of the site.

"I think it depends more on the professor who leads the program than the program itself," Harding said. "I went to France with Dr. Hurlbut and he made the difference."

Karly Staples, a sophomore, majoring in communications, from St. George, went to London and said she wonders how students would be able to rate programs when all the advisors and classes are different each time.

She said the web page could be useful because it'd be nice to know what she was getting herself into when it comes to food and culture.

kayleigh@byu.net